Premiership 24/25 - Round 16

[TRF_Olyy]

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[TRF_Olyy]

Friday should be a banger, both teams hitting some good form and I think we're actually going to have almost every player available - certainly the most available in potentially years (off the top of my head it's only Tommy Taylor that's unavailable from a first choice 23 now that Schonert is no longer with the club)

I'm too lazy to look at the actual maths of it so I'm just taking the run in as we've got to win every game - simple as.
Hopefully Saints rest their main guys this weekend and then want to battle harden their players for the final, rather than wrapping them in cotton wool, as they're playing a few of the playoff contenders in the run in

If Quins could find some form and do us a favour that'd be much appreciated

Bristol vs Bath will be interesting, will Bath rest some guys? Will Bristol actually switch on? They'll want a big performance at home in a derby game, but have they got the mental fortitude after the last few results?

 

[Saintjay]

Can't see Saints going full strength. Most of them will be hungover till next Monday.

 

[Which Tyler]

Bristol vs Bath will be interesting, will Bath rest some guys? Will Bristol actually switch on? They'll want a big performance at home in a derby game, but have they got the mental fortitude after the last few results?

Suspect we'll see some rotation, but not huge. The usual 4-6.

You don't want to hit the final without having played since the SF.
It's a warm-up in the same stadium the final is going to be played in, so a brilliant opportunity to get the first choice players used to it.

Bigger rotation can come next week against Leicester - 6 days before the final, and too close to eg. get through RTP protocols if taking a knock to the head.

Next 6 weeks are all about managing the work load; with a desire to hit a minor peak in week 3; but most importantly to be as hot as possible for weeks 5 & 6.
Weeks 1, 2 and 4 are just beats to hit on that road.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Didn't notice it was at the Principality - yeah, gotta think Bath will be going much stronger than they may otherwise have done

 

[Scotty]

Can't see Saints going full strength. Most of them will be hungover till next Monday.

I'm really hoping you don't, if Saints ride their current form then they will put another big win on us.

Interesting if there is any change to us given the first game with Baxter fully incharge of training again.

 

[Geordie]

Falcons win this weekend! You heard it here first

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I can see saints resting loads so expect our B team to rock up.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez (c), 12. Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford 9. Gus Warr, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Tom Curry, 8. JL du Preez.

Replacements:
16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Dan du Preez, 22. Raffi Quirke, 23. Tom O'Flaherty.

 

[IT157]

George Ford to score the decisive drop goal for the win against his former club.

 

[IT157]

I could see Harlequins putting a spanner in Gloucester's top 4 ambitions this weekend. This look like the type of game Gloucester will fall short in, and thus fall short in getting that top 4 spot.

 

[IT157]

Falcons win this weekend! You heard it here first

That would be great!

Saracens not getting into the top 4 would be preferable.

 

[Flankers' paradise]

given largely this lineup have been playing really well in recent weeks can anyone explain what the problems Leicester are having are? All i seem to hear is no one wants to be head coach and backroom problems?

 

[The Seeker]

Gloucester over Harlequins in a close one.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Roebuck and Reed vs Radwan and OHC is such a good matchup

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Rodd is in some form atm,
Takes him a good run of games to get momentum but when he does he's motoring - just needs to fix that consistency because when he does get the inevitable knock that all props do it takes him a while to get back on form

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Steward's defence v pace is too bad

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What a line from RMW

Wonder if he might be playing his way into the summer tour considering SB has never really looked Atkinson's way before

Sale making the playoffs would probably be a negative for him as he could've been involved in the XV game

 

[Which Tyler]

What a line from RMW

Wonder if he might be playing his way into the summer tour considering SB has never really looked Atkinson's way before

Sale making the playoffs would probably be a negative for him as he could've been involved in the XV game

But then, McGuigan on the coaching staff...